We had the loveliest time sailing on the American Empress June 15-22, 2014. My mother and I had both enjoyed steamboat sailings on the Mississippi and we looked forward to this one, closer to home in Vancouver, Canada. We were not disappointed. Everything was wonderful.
- The crew were friendly, efficient and accommodating.
- The dining room presented delicious, appealing and gluten-free options with sharp staff who remembered us and our preferences. We appreciated sampling local fare - huckleberry ice cream, local cheeses, wines, seafood. While we have in the past enjoyed our dining partners at assigned tables, we did prefer the open seating without a schedule or assigned tables this time. Sometimes it's just nice to have a bit of quiet, alone time after a busy day. Our maitre d' was astute and accommodating in these areas.
We originally expected to be in Portland, but it was switched at some point to Vancouver, WA. While Vancouver was charming and we were located across the street from town square and a wonderful farmer's market, we did anticipate being in Portland and exploring the city on our own. When we got to Vancouver, we tried to book a Portland city tour and they were sold out.